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Are the fallen angels really dark in appearance? Answer to Question 23
God created only angels of light. Lucifer or Eosphoros as he is known in Greek and whose name means light-bearer was a mighty and beautiful angel, either an Archangel or Cherubim according to the Book of Ezekiel which says: "From the day that thou wast created thou wast with the cherub: I set thee upon the holy mount of God... Thou wast perfect in thy days from the day that thou wast created, till iniquity was found in thee... Thine heart hath been lifted up because of thy beauty; thy knowledge hath been corrupted with thy beauty: because of the multitude of thy sins have I cast thee to the ground." (Ezekiel 28:12-18)
He was one of the most perfect and radiant of angels, as his name implies. He had been richly endowed by the Creator and should have ever held his eyes on the Lord, but instead he concentrated his attention on his own perfection; he fell in love with it and was seized with pride. By doing this he left the path of truth, which united him with the Source of Life and Light, and entered the path of destruction. He forgot that he owed all to God, that all his perfections were the gift of God. He ascribed them to himself, and so seemed exceedingly great to himself. He was so blinded by the idea of his own greatness and considered, "is there any who is equal to me? Is there another angel equal or even God himself? Thus he said to himself "I am divine, I myself am a divinity!" In his self conceitedness he rose up against the Lord and with him also a third of the angels who were loyal to him. This information is received from Revelation which says "And his tail drew the third part of the stars of heaven, and did cast them to the earth. (Rev 12:4)
The Prophet Isaiah says of Lucifer's arrogance: "How is Lucifer fallen from heaven, that rose up in the morning! He is crushed unto the earth that sent light to all the nations. But thou hast said in thy mind, I will ascend into heaven, I will set my throne above the stars of heaven: I will sit upon a lofty mount toward the north: I will go up above the clouds; I will be like the Most High". (Isaiah 14: 12-14)
In our earthly language there was a war in heaven. The holy Chief Commander Michael, the faithful servant of the Lord, appointed by God as general and commander over the entire assembly of the nine angelic orders together with his angels fought against Lucifer and his angels. The Book of revelation again informs us of this war saying: "And there was war in heaven: Michael and his angels fought against the dragon; and the dragon fought and his angels, And prevailed not; neither was their place found any more in heaven. And the great dragon was cast out, that old serpent, called the Devil, and Satan, which deceiveth the whole world: he was cast out into the earth, and his angels were cast out with him." (Rev: 12:7-8) Christ says of the fall "I beheld Satan as lightning fall from heaven." (Luke 10:18).
Lucifer and his angels, having fallen from the grace of God and the source of their light and radiance became dark angels. From thereafter Lucifer was called the devil from the Greek word diavolos meaning divider, and Satan a Hebrew word meaning "enemy." His angels were called demons and although the etymology of the Greek term daimones means spirits and doesn't specifically refer to evil spirits, it has come to mean the fallen angels. Having lost their place in heaven they also lost their bright beauty and became as frightful beasts.
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